Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce

Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce. Winter is entering its last stages and the smell of Spring is in the air. I didn't want to leave Winter without making the epitome of comfort and taste with a dish that screams gathering and feasting with authentic Italian rich flavors!

Song of the day: "Shine a light" by The Banners.

Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce. A recipe that brings nothing but warm fuzzies and memories of being Italian during the Winter season. Imagine polenta (slow-cooked cornmeal), a rich tomato sauce simmered for hours infused with the richness of good quality Italian sausage and some wonderful ribs, coming together on a wood board to be shared with the ones you love. I guarantee you will see your family smile, eating good wholesome food, while sharing a meal that brings you closer together. After all, Italian culture is truly about family.

[This post is sponsored by The Italian Centre Shop. We’ve been compensated but -as always- all opinions are our own.]

 

 

Polenta memories

Polenta, I would have to say, brings back wonderful memories. One, in particular, was the winter of 1976. Our family went to Boston to celebrate Christmas with family. My auntie Nina had a fireplace and cooking in a copper pot over the fire was polenta and on the stove, a rich tomato sauce stewing with meats and sausages.

I loved how everyone was hugging, talking, and all around this fireplace tending a wonderful pot of polenta. You could smell the sweet corn and together with the aroma of sugo (tomato sauce) had us all anxious to set down to a truly large family-style meal. My Boston Italian family does not do anything small, it is always a grand affair.

It was beautiful seeing family all around a large set table. You could not hear yourself think as discussions and talking hosting many different conversations saturated the room. However, the most beautiful thing, a large wood board in the center of the table with a beautiful smooth layer of polenta (cornmeal) and on top the rich tomato sauce and of course those sausages and meat so moist and tender from that slow cooking in the sauce.

You can't get a better Norman Rockwell moment like this. People sharing food, literally spooning polenta, tomato sauces, and some of that luscious meat and eating with the biggest smiles and the warmest of hearts!

It has been a hard and long winter for us, however, we can say farewell to the cold and snow and dark days with a real wonderful heartwarming dish like this Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce!

I know you have heard me say this probably a thousand times. I love going shopping at The Italian Centre Shop because it is not only about getting the grocery list taken care of, it is a total Italian shopping experience. Firstly from the music that is playing in the background to the aroma that fills the store and lastly the lovely European foods. For me, it feels like family, one that I have grown up with. If you are ever in Edmonton, or if you live here and never been there, check it out, maybe we will run into each other. We are there a fair bit.

Let's get this dish done

After a nice visit to The Italian Centre Shop I am home with a bag full of wonderful things, let's take a look:

• Cornmeal (polenta)
• D.O.P. canned San Marzano tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Rack of organic humanely raised pork ribs
• Italian mild sausages
• Extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil
• Fresh organic basil
• Italian Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

What to start doing first

You want to get that sauce going because it needs a few hours to simmer to get that rich flavor and make sure those ribs and sausages are cooked well and tender. So, to get it going, in goes some olive oil in a nice heavy cast pot. Toss in the sausages, ribs, and garlic and get a nice brown on them. As a result, heightened flavor resulting in a lip-smacking good sauce.

Next, in goes the tomatoes, hand crushing them as they go into the pot. Have to say wear an apron, this process can be messy but it is very important as it releases all those sweet juices and breaks up the tomato, hence, rich chunky sauce equaling a yummy, delicious outcome! The last thing, some fresh basil. Don't you just love the smell of fresh basil? It always makes me close my eyes and smile!

This sauce smells amazing, I want to just get a slice of pagnotta bread and scoop some of that pulp and slather it on that slice finally biting in. Now that's Italian! Mamma mia, buonissimo! Let's finish this Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce!

Time to make Polenta!

It really is easy to make polenta. Firstly bring some salted water to boil. I always taste my water for seasoning, very important. Secondly, slowly sprinkle in the cornmeal and whisk continuously. If you don't, the cornmeal will stick to the bottom of the pot and burn and that would mean burnt flavored polenta. As you continue to sprinkle and whisk, the polenta will start to thicken once it gets to the point where you see the mixture form lines when you stir through it. Time to lower that heat and finally cover. Let it cook for a time and what you will be left with is a thick smooth velvety sweet cornmeal. Remember to check on it to make sure it is not burning! Finish with a pat of butter and a stir.

Plating

Nicoletta and I brought these beautiful wood plates back from Italy. It is going to be perfect for this dish. So on goes that wonderful polenta, a topping of the rich sauce and some sausages and those fall apart ribs. Let's not forget the sprinkling of Parmigiano Reggiano!

My mouth is watering, this smells so good!

My spoon is ready

I love the creaminess of the polenta, gotta try some. Mmmmmmmmm............ the cornmeal is sweet, nutty, and that sauce is like a blanket of yum and richness which brings in an acidic sweetness to the backdrop of the polenta. The sausage is beautiful, juicy, moist, tender, well seasoned, and love how the tomatoes have elevated the flavor. The ribs fall-apart tender, moist, so so good. This Polenta with Sausage and Rib in Tomato Sauce is hearty, luscious, and so heartwarming. Beautiful textures, rich Italian flavors, and a real table center conversational piece. Can't get any better than that!

Sunday is around the corner......

It has been a long and hard winter, however, Spring is starting to come through. More daylight, warmer temperatures and that unforgettable smell of Spring with the birds singing and chirping in the trees and pond. Let's give Winter a proper farewell, can't say we will miss you, but we will miss this dish so let's savor it.

Sunday's coming, get that sauce stewing, the cornmeal steaming, and gather the family for a truly Italian delicious family feast!

Enjoy!

Song of the day: "Shine a light" by The Banners.

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[This post is sponsored by The Italian Centre Shop. We’ve been compensated but -as always- all opinions are our own.]